Inshore Lobster

Integrated Fishery Management Plan

Lobster Fishing Areas 27 - 38

We have been asked to remove the Tag Replacement Policy Document  as it appears more discussion is needed on some parts of it. The things that do seem to be acceptable are the requirement for a signed and properly witnessed form for all requests for trap tag replacements and this will be required.  All other aspects of the replacement policy will be as they were last year (at the Area's discretion).

IFMP PA Section

The precautionary approach (PA) is a decision making process with rules which identify triggers and responses during periods of changing stock health. Please read this document carefully. In a nutshell, DFO is asking us to identify 3 stock status zones – healthy, cautious or critical – and agree to actions that we should take if the fishery reaches the cautious and critical stages (based on Landing data -- see Table 1).

Comment: The management board was told not to be concerned about the PA since our minimum carapace size is well above the size at which 50 % of females are mature (or SOM50 in DFO language). See the graph on page 5 of the  IFMP Lobster Section 2 Science.

IFMP template maritimes region – draft

This is simply the template for all IFMPs for all fisheries. It provides a standard outline, foreword, glossary of terms and safety at sea (for the Pacific Region) to be included in all IFMPs.

IFMP Lobster Section 1 Overview

Provides the history of the fishery (with a figure on historical landings and introduction of regulations), participants (ie. Number of licence holders in each LFA), map of LFAs, current management measures (season, governance and conservation harvesting plans).

IFMP Lobster Section 2 Science

This section describes stock assessment and status, the biology of lobster, size at 50% maturity (SOM50) in different areas, mortality, predation on lobsters, food sources for lobster, species interactions and interactions with other fisheries, the impact of the fishery on the ecosystem. This section introduces the precautionary approach (PA).

IFMP Lobster Section 3 Economics

This describes management issues being used in Scotia Fundy. V-notching definition (used in most LFAs but not in LFA27), use of by-catch, tag replacement, logbooks, gear loss, gear conflict. Ocean management issues such as the marine protected areas (MPA), Oil and Gas exploration and exploitation and transportation are discussed. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification and the process are presented.

An important section describes the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and its impact on our logbooks: There will be an additional SARA logbook to be submitted at the end of the fishing season whether or not interactions with a species at risk occurred. However, licence holders must report any interactions to SARA at 1-866-567-6277.

IFMP  Lobster Section 5 Objectives

This section describes the management objectives in terms of productivity, biodiversity, habitat and prosperity (of fishermen), and what strategies will be used to reach these objectives. This section describes the role of the Advisory boards, a performance review, monitoring of the process and plan enhancement – all in an effort to review the IFMP and make changes where there need be.

IFMP Lobster Section 10 Compliance Plan